Road trip? Iceland is the place to do one!

Icelandic Highlands

Head inland and explore the dramatic highlands for an Iceland road trip you won’t forget. The volcanic landscapes and rugged terrain are like nothing else on earth. This is a longer road trip that, to fully discover the area, will need several days to complete

The route takes you from Reykjavik, and you will visit some of the highlights of the Golden Circle, including Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, and Geysir, before making your way to the country’s second city of Akureyri. From here, continue to Myvatn, an expansive volcanic lake that is known for its abundance of bird life, before journeying through places like Askja and Snaefell to reach the Western Fjords. Laki, Eldgja, and Landmannalaugar are on the route to the Thjorsa Valley, before coming back to your starting point.

Highlights include the crater lake of Viti, in which you can take a dip, various hot water springs, and the wildlife-rich Fjallabak Nature Reserve.

Westfjords 

If you don’t have time to travel to the highlands, focus your attentions on the coast instead. Located on a mountainous peninsula to the west of the country, there are plenty of remote areas to explore on your Iceland road trip. The region’s capital is Isafjordur, and you can relax as you wander through its quaint fishing villages and dine on freshly caught seafood.

Hornstrandir is an ideal place for nature lovers, with terrific hiking trails, astounding views, wildlife, and a rare sense of tranquility. Avid ornithologists should pay a visit to the cliff at Latrabjarg, and the red sand beach of Raudisandur is home to seals. Dynjandi Waterfall is touted as being one of the most beautiful falls in all of Iceland.

 Ring Road 

The Ring Road offers the ultimate Iceland road trip. It is the nation’s one major road and leads right around the country. It is possible to complete in around a week, but, of course, a longer journey would allow you to spend more time at the varied attractions along the route and also take more detours away from the main road to experience more of Iceland’s majestic and ethereal beauty. The Ring Road (Route 1) stretches for 1,332 kilometres.

Prepare to be dazzled by natural splendour on all parts of your drive, with mountains, volcanoes, beaches, waterfalls, lakes, glaciers, hot springs, the ocean, fjords, islands, islets, tiny villages, and native wildlife along the way. Do note that a lot of the country’s most well-known attractions, those that lie on the Golden Circle, are not actually along the Ring Road and will need a detour to get to.

You will likely begin your road trip in Reykjavik; make sure you equip yourself well with an Iceland travel guide to fully appreciate the marvels of this route before you get behind the wheel and set off. 

Heading north, the route goes through a tunnel under the Hvalfjorður Fjord to reach pretty Borgarnes and continues through places like Stadur, Blonduos, and Bakki before coming to the northern capital of Akureyri, which is located on a scenic fjord. Discover the town with an Iceland tour guide, taking in sights like the local church, Hof, the botanical garden, and Listagilio. The mountainous and rugged north of Iceland boasts jewels like Myvatn Lake and the caves and rock formations of Dimmuborgir.

Keep your eyes peeled for wild reindeer as you drive around the eastern part of the country; the east is the only place in Iceland where reindeer roam freely. Mountains, fjords, and picturesque villages can be found all along the Ring Road. The fishing town of Hofn is a top spot to indulge in fresh seafood, Alftafjordur is known for its swans, and Hallormsstadur Forest is the country’s biggest forest. Try and spot the rumoured monster of the deep that lurks in the waters of the Lagarfljot River!

Driving south along the Ring Road leads to fertile agricultural plains that are punctuated with the odd mountain or river. Hekla volcano rises in the distance and you can see the notorious Eyjafjallajokull that grounded European flights just a few years ago. How about taking a break from driving and rafting along the Hvita River? Or, hiking in the Fimmvorduháls? Top spots in the southwest of Iceland include the geothermal town of Hverageroi, the waterfalls of Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, and Vik, with its black sand beach.

The southeast brings you closer to the capital, but still offers plenty of stunning sights, with glacial rivers, views of the immense Vatnajokull Glacier, Fjaorargljufur Canyon, Vatnajokull National Park, and the huge and impressive glacial lagoon of Jokulsarlón. 

There are certainly plenty of wonders to be found around each bend on an Iceland road trip!